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International Advisories and Alerts

Marburg Virus Rwanda

Reconsider Current Travel to Rwanda 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC ) has issued a Level 3 - Reconsider Nonessential Travel travel health notice in response to an outbreak of Marburg virus in Rwanda.

Marburg virus disease (Marburg) is a rare and deadly disease that has, at times, caused outbreaks in several African countries. It is spread by contact with blood or body fluids of a person infected with or who has died from Marburg. It is also spread by contact with contaminated objects (such as clothing, bedding, needles, and medical equipment) or by contact with animals, such as fruit bats and nonhuman primates, who are infected with Marburg virus. (Source: CDC)

A Level 3 (scale of 1-4) travel health notice is a cautionary notice and does not immediately curtail travel by Temple faculty and staff. However, they are advised to follow the recommendations of the CDC and prepare for possible self-isolation for up to 21-days following their return from Rwanda. Travelers should also consider that countries of transit, including solely for airport transfer, may impose their own screenings and public health restrictions.

The U.S. is currently screening all passengers returning from Rwanda at designated airports. Travelers with signs and symptoms will be referred to public health authorities, who can require a period of self-isolation up to 21 days. This period of self-isolation can also be required is signs and symptoms appear within 21 days upon traveler’s departure from Rwanda. Temple would expect those advised to self-isolate to refrain from on campus activities. Thus, travelers will need to prepare for a possible extended period away from work, classroom instruction, research or other on campus activities.

In further consideration of travel, Temple travelers should note that Rwanda as a Medical Risk Rating of Poor. Healthcare is considered below international standards. Moreover, access to routine or acute care quickly compromised in the event of an outbreak of endemic, epidemic or pandemic disease

Monkeypox in East Africa

Clade I Mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Neighboring Countries

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC ) has issued a Level 2 – Practice Enhanced Precautions travel health notice in response to an outbreak of Clade I Mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and countries sharing borders with DRC including Burundi, Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. There are also reports of travel-associated cases in Kenya.

Mpox is a disease caused by infection with Monkeypox virus. Mpox is endemic in forested areas of Central and West Africa. There are two types of Monkeypox virus. Historically, clade I has been associated with a higher percentage of people with mpox developing severe illness or dying, compared to clade II. Mpox can spread through direct contact with infected wild animals, through close contact (including intimate or sexual contact) with a person with mpox, and through contact with contaminated materials. (Source: CDC)

A Level 2 (scale of 1-4) travel health notice is a cautionary notice and does not immediately impact Temple travel to or from the designated countries. However, travelers should be aware of the:

  1. Increasing prevalence of clade I mpox in these locations.
  2. Signs and symptoms of mpox.
  3. Activities and conduct that increase the risk of infection. 
  4. Personal risk factors that promote eligibility for the JYNNEOS vaccine.  

Currently, several local clinics, including the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, have the vaccine available.  

In further consideration of travel, Temple travelers should note that Burundi, Central African Republic, DRC and Uganda all have Temple country risk profiles of TU:5 - Extreme or TU:4 – High security risk ratings, which impact Temple travel. In addition, all locations, with the exceptions of urban cities in Kenya, have TU Poor medical risk ratings. The public health capacity to manage severe outbreaks is severely limited and medical care for infected individuals would be limited and inadequate.

Zika in India

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC ) has issued a Level 2 – Practice Enhanced Precautions travel health notice in response to an outbreak of Zika virus in the state of Maharashtra, India. Maharashtra is home to several prominent cities for academia, research and business, including Mumbai, Nagpur and Pune.

Zika virus is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. It can also be spread through sex from a person who is infected with Zika virus to their sexual partner. Zika virus can be passed from a pregnant person to their fetus. (Source: CDC)

A Level 2 (scale of 1-4) travel health notice is a cautionary notice and does not immediately impact Temple travel to or from Maharashtra. However, the CDC does advise that individuals who are pregnant should avoid travel to Maharashtra. All travelers should be aware that:

  1. Individuals who are pregnant or planning pregnancy, should talk to their doctor about the risk of Zika virus infection, the possible health effects of Zika virus infection during pregnancy, and ways to protect themselves.
  2. There is no preventative vaccination for Zika, and prevention relies on protecting yourself from mosquito bites and using condoms or not having sex during travel and for 2-3 months post-travel.
  3. Certain signs and symptoms may indicate a Zika infection.

Israel/Gaza Conflict

The university continues to closely monitor the ongoing situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip. Any travel to the region should consult the Risk Profiles by Country page as there may be additional considerations before travel can proceed.

Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Temple University continuously assesses the situation in eastern Europe. Individuals looking to travel to one of the following countries will require an exception from the Elevated/High Risk Committee:

  • Belarus
  • Russia
  • Ukraine

Countries Bordering the Conflict

In our judgement, it is still safe to travel to the great majority of European countries, and we continue to plan for future programs in Europe. These are some of the resources we use to keep tabs on the situation.

  • Advice provided by the U.S. Department of State, which regularly updates its travel advisories, including information on the availability of U.S. embassy assistance to travelers
  • Advice and on-the-ground security updates provided in real time by Temple’s emergency assistance provider, Healix
  • Continuous monitoring of open-source media
  • Advice provided by trusted on-site partners who develop international programs in partnership with us and who can speak to the realities they are currently facing in their countries
  • Continuous benchmarking with other similar universities who are considering these same things

For specifics surrounding the countries bordering the conflict, travelers should review the Risk Profiles by Country page for additional guidance and resources.

Current Legal Risk Concerns for Travel to China

The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory advises to Reconsider Travel to China (PRC) due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans, and the risk of wrongful detentions.   

For TU students pursuing studies in language, cultural studies, or international business, these are of nominal concern.  

For select TU leadership and researchers, the risk is very low probability, however the select enforcement against a TU individual is very high impact. Neither U.S. Consulate authorities nor TU’s international assistance providers can intervene on a detained individual’s behalf. To help mitigate the risk, TU travelers should be aware of the legal concerns and suspected triggers for enforcement. They should also travel technology and data light.   

Exit/Travel Bans

  • 2018 – current: Used as leverage against individuals or entities with pending legal action in Chinese jurisdiction and individuals or entities with debts due to prior legal, business or contract disputes.  

  • July 2023 - current: Used as enforcement of updated Counter-Espionage Law which expands the definition of espionage from covering state secrets and intelligence to any documents, data, materials, or items related to national security interests, without defining terms.  

Pre-travel questions of Temple leadership  

  1. Does Temple University or any affiliated entities have known pending criminal or civil cases in Chinese jurisdiction?  
  2. Does Temple University or any affiliated entities have known court orders to pay settlements or debts from prior legal, business or contract disputes?  

Pre-travel questions of Temple leadership and/or individual researchers  

  1. Is the individual a dual Chinese national with pending legal action or debts in Chinese legal jurisdiction? Does their immediate family have any known pending legal action or debts in Chinese jurisdiction?  
  2. Are they a dual citizen entering China on travel documents other than a U.S. passport? If so they may be treated as a PRC citizen and not afforded access to U.S. Consular resources. 
  3. Does the individual’s area of research or collaboration relate to areas of national security interest?  
    1. Political Sensitivity – Human Rights; Uighur population; Tibet and/or the Dalai Lama; Falun Gong; Corruption; Tiananmen Square including references to 1989 or 64.  
    2. National Security – Taiwan; Xinjiang; Hong Kong democracy protests  
    3. Technology and Sensitive Industry – Semiconductors; Defense and Military Related Technology  
  4. Does the individual’s area of research or collaboration involve the collection and transfer of personally identifiable information (PII) of Chinese citizens?  
  5. Does the individual’s area of research or collaboration involve the collection and transfer of medical data, geological data, or population data? 

General travel advice 

  1. Always enter China on the correct visa. Never attempt to use a Tourism visa when engaging in activities that require a Student or Business “M” visa.  
  2. Always carry a copy of the photo page of your passport.  
  3. Be aware of and heed local laws. Avoid conflict and disputes. Violations and disputes will most often be decided in favor of local citizens.  
Safeguarding Temple and Personal Data

In addition to Exit Bans, the updated Counter-Espionage Law and other recent laws concerning Personal Information Protection and National Intelligence allow authorities to access all electronic equipment and data of foreign nationals and entities.  

It is advised that TU travelers to China:  

  1. Review ITS' procedure for preparing your technology for international travel
  2. Travel with electronic equipment (laptops, tablets, phones) that are cleared of any data (including news articles, emails):  
  3. That may be deemed in China’s national security interests. 
  4. That contain sensitive information regarding Temple business, operations and PII.  
  5. Limit data carried to only those items necessary to travel and conduct relevant business/research in China.  
  6. Enable two-factor authentication and use Duo to access all TU resources.  
  7. Implement the use of a VPN for all electronic communication and access to TU resources. Use VPN to operate from cloud resources to protect contacts and sensitive information.  
  8. Operate mindful that all electronic communication is subject to monitoring; being careful not to discuss politically sensitive topics or share unprotected sensitive information by phone, email or other electronic means.  
  9. Be aware that all texting, messaging and use of WeChat on personal or employer issued photos is monitored. It can be difficult to navigate in PRC without using WeChat for some forms of communication or payment.  
  10. Do not accept electronic gifts, including USB devices, including from apparently benign sources. 
Export Control

U.S. export control laws govern the transfer of controlled information, items and technologies to foreign countries and foreign persons for national security purposes. TU faculty and staff involved in research involving controlled information: defense information, weapons, commercially available products that can be used for military application, or controlled biologics and materials with historical use in biowarfare or potential for serious economic or public health should contact Compliance for International Research and Collaboration (Export Control) prior to travel to China. 

https://global.temple.edu/faculty-staff/compliance-international-research-and-collaboration-export-control 

Dwayne King, Export Control Manager  

215-707-7819 

  

Resources on Travel to China

  • U.S. DOS Travel Advisory - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/China.html  

  • Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC). China Expands its Counter-Espionage Law. 5.2023  

  • Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC). China Travel Explainer. 10.2023  

  • National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC). U.S. Business Risk: People’s Republic of China (PRC) Laws Expand Beijing’s Oversight of Foreign and Domestic Companies. 6.2023  

  • Healix Intelligence Report. China’s Revised Anti-Espionage Laws: Exploring the scope of the law and its implications on businesses. 6.2023.